It is time for hard choices on defence policy
Neither the government nor opposition currently offers a credible vision for Britain’s defences, or acknowledges the brutality of the economic choices, writes Max Hastings
Global terror
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The latest news and analysis on the fight against global terrorism plus a special FT investigation into the evolution of the al-Qaeda global terror network
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In depth
Judges back ruling in torture claim case
The High Court has said details of the interrogation of Binyam Mohamed are in the public interest, despite objections from the foreign secretary on national security grounds
Pakistan makes gains in south Waziristan
But Peshawar bomb overshadows success
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Comment & analysis
Diplomacy works, but it cannot defuse every threat
Barack Obama has elevated diplomacy and engagement as vital instruments of American power, recognising that legitimacy counts alongside military muscle. The truth, however, is that it may be impossible to eliminate the most serious threats to international security, says Philip Stephens
The fightback in Afghanistan begins
The Obama administration knows that no progress can be made on any front unless there is first a major improvement in the security situation on the ground
